The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, in conjunction with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation - Arab World Regional Office, will host the "Sixth Regional Review Meeting of the International Conference on Population and Development in the Arab Region" on 13 September.
The event, themed "The Arab Regional Conference on Population and Development: Challenges and Prospects Ten Years after the 2013 Cairo Declaration," will take place in Beirut, and will feature the participation of distinguished figures, including:
His Excellency the Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs, Hector Hajjar.
His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Social Affairs Sector.
Her Excellency Dr. Rula Abdullah Dashti, Executive Secretary of ESCWA.
Her Excellency Mrs. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund.
Her Excellency Mrs. Fadwa Bakhda, Regional Director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation - Regional Office for the Arab World.
This gathering represents the final stage of the sixth regional review process of the International Conference on Population and Development. It is convened in accordance with Resolution 2 issued by the Arab Council for Population and Development during its fourth regular session held in Riyadh. The primary objectives of this meeting are:
To facilitate comprehensive assessments by Arab governments regarding the progress achieved and the challenges encountered in implementing the commitments outlined in the 2013 Cairo Declaration.
To explore viable policy solutions aimed at expediting the fulfillment of the objectives articulated in the 2013 Cairo Declaration.
To provide a platform for the presentation of the primary findings from the regional review report on the progress made in implementing the 2013 Cairo Declaration. This report consolidates data and information derived from national audit reports.
Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Social Affairs Sector, highlighted in her opening address that this meeting will unveil the outcomes of the regional review report. These results, along with the final document, will be incorporated into the United Nations Secretary-General's report on "Programmes and Interventions Related to Assessing the Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development." This report aims to deepen the comprehension of the interconnections and synergies between the 1994 Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It underscores the pivotal role of population at the heart of the development process, guided by a human rights approach that upholds individual human rights and endeavours to harmonise the diverse dimensions of population and sustainable development issues.
